OTTAWA (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday denounced Russia for its military action in Georgia, saying Moscow was trying to control nations outside its borders and showing a "Soviet" mentality.
"I must tell you that I am deeply troubled by a notion I see developing in Russia and that is a notion that Russia somehow has a say or some control over countries outside of its borders," Harper told reporters.
"In my judgement, this is a very worrisome development. It really indicates a Soviet-era mentality," he added.
"And I think it is something that all democratic countries should speak out strongly against and I hope Russia will reconsider its actions."
Harper reiterated his call for a halt to the fighting as he condemned Russia's incursions into Georgian territory, including the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"Obviously we've called on both sides to cease the fighting and I gather a ceasefire now appears to be taking hold, but we do call on Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia."
Canada announced on Tuesday it would send about one million dollars in aid to the people affected by the conflict which has displaced around 100,000 people.
Also Thursday Defense Minister Peter MacKay said Canada is cancelling a joint military exercise with Russia because of its actions in Georgia, after the United States also withdrew from the event.
"In light of the current situation in Georgia, and after consultation with our American allies, we agreed that it would be inappropriate to go ahead with Exercise Vigilant Eagle, a planned combined NORAD-Russia military exercise that was scheduled to begin August 20, 2008," MacKay said in a statement.
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, groups the United States and Canada, and monitors air and space threats in the region.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said earlier that Washington had cancelled two joint exercises with Russia over its military action in Georgia, including the Vigilant Eagle NORAD event which was to begin on August 20.
"We will assess participation in future such exercises as the situation evolves," the Canadian defense minister said.
He said his government was "calling for Russia to fully respect the terms of the cease-fire and respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
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